Siwan’s claim to fame so far has been three-dimensional: it is India’s first President Rajendra Prasad’s birthplace; it is the constituency of the jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Mohd. Shahabuddin; and the district boasts of maximum remittances from abroad to Bihar — roughly 40 per cent of the ₹1,800 crore that flowed into the State in 2014-15. But slowly and steadily, Siwan is adding a fourth dimension — or a third claim to fame if you will. A group of young girls of Mairwa block is overturning the all-too-familiar story of being pushed into child labour and/or early marriage at the expense of education. The story is unfolding almost Dangal-like, as it plays out in the boondocks of Bihar. And like Aamir Khan in the Bollywood blockbuster, it has at its centre one man: Sanjay Pathak, 43, who doubles up as the young girls’ coach, guardian, teacher and lifeline; in short, he is their life around which their lives revolve, drawing sustenance and encouragement. This, then, is the story of 70 girls in sports jerseys who sprint, lob and block — striving for perfection under their mentor’s eagle eye.

 

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